Here a blinding gleam of light flashed athwart his eyes and , letting
go of Erwin, he darted aside suddenly on a differing course. Erwin's
body crumpled into a heap. A heavier man might have toppled over the
edge, perhaps hanging helplessly at peril of falling out, unless held
by the straps which many old aviators neglect. As it was, the
nerveless lad was held by the high rim of the opening that fenced them
both in. For the moment the boy was safe.

Giving his whole attention to the machine, Blaine zigzagged and dodged,
mounting ever and ever higher. Yet his trend was unavoidably towards
the east, further within the enemy lines.

"For the present I've got to go this way," he thought. "I hope Lex and
Milt got away west before those 'cussed Archies broke loose. We'll
have to stay quiet until this ruction below settles down." Lex and
Milt were the pilots of the two remaining machines of this, the third
and last section of the bombing squadron of that night.